Thymocytes must pass a series of checkpoints on the road to becoming mature T cells. On page 603, Mandal et al. show that cells use Bcl2A1, a member of the Bcl2 family of survival proteins, to pass one critical checkpoint. The cell cannot make substitutes for this protein in a pinch, revealing that Bcl2A1 may be uniquely specialized for promoting survival without suppressing proliferation. To b...

the allergoid (P 1⁄4 0.16; Mann-Whitney). Linear regression coefficients obtained between immunoglobulin reactivity against both extracts were: r2 1⁄4 0.51 for specific IgE and r2 1⁄4 0.83 for specific IgG. An important decrease in the allergenic activity, measured by inhibition ELISA, was clearly observed. The MS/MS assay revealed the presence of the mayor allergen, and some isoforms, in non-m...

BACKGROUND Grass pollen allergy is one of the most common allergies worldwide, and patients often show sensitization to an array of phylogenetically related species. OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of specific immunotherapy (SIT) with Phleum pratense extract on induction of the immune response to a mixture composed of 5 grass pollen extracts. METHODS Forty-six adult patients suffering fro...

INTRODUCTION AND AIM OF THE STUDY Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPSS) is a pathology of high prevalence in Italian male population, difficult to diagnose and to treat and with poor response to conventional therapy. Aim of this study was to review the evidence of the literature about the therapeutic effects of a plant product containing flower pollen extracts and group B v...

BACKGROUND Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is effective treatment for allergic diseases, and subcutaneous use of depigmented polymerized extracts may allow rapid up-dosing and safe therapy. To date, there is little information on their safety and clinical effects for children and adolescents with allergic disease. METHODS We performed a retrospective survey of patient notes of 2927 children and ...

BACKGROUND Grass pollen, in particular from Lolium multiflorum is a major allergen source in temperate climate zones of Southern Brazil. The IgE sensitization profile of Brazilian grass pollen allergic patients to individual allergen molecules has not been analyzed yet. OBJECTIVE To analyze the IgE sensitization profile of a Brazilian grass pollen allergic population using individual allergen...

Results Of 1860 patients screened, 1097 (58.9 %) gave history of food allergy. Of the history positive patients 470 were skin prick tested . 29.3 % (138/470) exhibited positive reactions to one or more food(s). Rice elicited SPT positive reaction in maximum ( 6.2 %) cases followed by blackgram (5.9 %), lentil (5.5 %), citrus fruits (5.3 %), pea (3.8 %), maize (3.8%) and banana (3.6 %). Among fo...

BACKGROUND Employees in strawberry greenhouses are highly exposed to several (potential) allergenic agents. However, no occupational allergy in this branch has been described before. First, the presence of work-related allergic symptoms in strawberry workers was explored. Second, we aimed to prove the concept that an IgE-mediated allergy could be responsible for work-related symptoms. To test t...

The pyrrolizidine alkaloids previously identified in floral honey attributed to Echium vulgare (Boraginaceae) have been detected (8000-14 000 ppm) in pure pollen collected from the anthers of Echium vulgare. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids and/or their N-oxides were isolated from the aqueous acid extracts of pollen by use of strong cation-exchange, solid-phase extraction and identified by liquid chroma...

The adhesion of pollen grains to the stigmas of Brassica oleracea was assayed after treatment of the stigmas wiuth protease and/or cycloheximide. Treatment with protease alone adversely affected pollen grain adhesion. However, the adhesive properties of the stigma recovered fully if the stigmas were not pollinated until 2 h after treatment. Immersion of the stigmas in cycloheximide after protea...